Reed-organ



(No Model.)

W. E. LEIGHTON.

REED ORGAN.

No. 461,096. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

WITNESSES.

THE novml'rqlws 0D,, mommgm, mmmnnu n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM E. LEIGHTON, OF VEST PEMBROKE, MAINE.

REED-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,096, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,098. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. LEIGHTON, of Vest Pembroke, in the county of NVashington and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reed-Organs, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in reedorgans, whereby the reed-cells are fully covered by the reed-valves to preventleakage of wind and to permit of constructing the reedcharnbers to take up theleast possible space.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a front View of the reed chambers and valves for the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the modified form of valve-support; and Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the valve-support on lines so 00 of Fig. 1.

The improved reed-organ is provided with a series of reecl chambers A, each having two rows of horizontally-arranged reed-cells B and O, of which the row of cells C islocated above the row of cells B, and the several cells are placed alternately, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of the cells in the rows of cells B and O is provided with the usual reed D, and the front openings of the said cells are adapted to be closed by the valves E, fastened on valve-stein F, secured to the key G, near its pivoted end. A spring H presses against each of the valve-stems F, so as to hold the valves E over the front openings of the reedcells, at the same time holding the respective key G in an uppermost position ready for the touch of the performer.

The valves E, their valve-stems F, and the springs H are inclosed in a swell-box I, provided with valves J at the front to increase or decrease the swell in -the usual manner.

The rear ends of the rows of reed-cells B and Oin the reed-chamberA open intoa vertical wind-chest L, connected in the usual manner with the suction-bellows, the said openings being controlled by the inutes K, connected by rods K, with levers N, actuated from the stops in the usual manner. The wind-chestis provided with a detachable back for giving convenient access to the mntes.

By arranging the reed-cells in rows, as previously mentioned, and having the several cells placed alternately, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the valves E can be made considerably wider, so as to fully cover the front openings of the several cells, the distance between two cells in a row B or C being sufficient to permit of increasing the valve inwidth.

It is understood that the several valves, arranged in a vertical line on the reed-chambers A, are seen red to one and the same valvestem F, so that the said several valves, located one above the other, are opened simultaneously on pressing the respective key G. The valve-stem F may be rigidly secured to its respective key G, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or it may be fastened adjustably thereon, as is illustrated in Fig. 1. In this case the rear end of the key G is provided on top with a groove G, in which fits a tenon F, formed on the lower end of the stem F. The front of the lower part of the stem abuts against a On the extreine rear end of the key is held an extension Q, arranged in line with the stern F and provided with a screw P, on which the rear face of the stem F is adapted to rest. By adjusting the block 0 in the key G and the screw P in the extension Q, the valve-stein F using a valve-stem F, as described, for the respective key G, the pit-men usually employed in organs are entirely dispensed with.

It will be seen that by the arrangement shown and described the alternate valvestems F carry the valves for the upper and lower reed-cells O and B. The reed-cells of the several rows can, by this arrangement, be made of the same width as previously; but the intervening space between two adjacent reed-cells may be reduced considerably, at the same time giving sufficient room to make the valves E large enough to securely cover the reed-cell openings. It is understood that when one of the keys 1s pressed the respective valvesteni F, carried by the key, swings outward and its valves open the openings of the reed-cells, so that air passes from the swell-box I through the respective openings into the cells to sound the reeds therein and to pass through the rear openings into the wind-chest Ii, connected with the suction-bellows.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a reed-organ, the combination, with a series of reed-chambers, each provided with an upper and a lower rowof reed-cells alternately arranged, the upper and lower cells of the several chambers being in vertical alignment, of avertically-extending valve-stein for each vertical series of cells and horizontallyextending keys or levers, along the inner ends of which the lower ends of the vertically-extending valve-stems are adjustable, substantially as set forth.

2. In a reed-organ, the coinbi11ation,witl1 a key extending horizontally, of a vertically extending valve-stein adjustable at its lower end on the inner end of the key,substantially as set forth.

3. In. a reed-organ, the combination, with the horizontally extending key having a groove G along its upper face and the upwardprojecting extension Q at its inner end, provided with the screw P, of the vertically-extending valve-stein resting against the screw, and having a tenon entering said groove and the block 0 against which the front face of the lower end abuts, and having a tenon entering the groove G and provided with an adj Listing-screw, substantially as set forth.

4. In a reed-organ, the combination, with horizontal rows of reed-cclls, the swell-box I over the front of the said cells and having Valves J, the wind-chest L at the rear of the cells, the routes K, connecting-rod, and operating-lever N, of the vertical valve-stems F in the swell-box and the keys G, entering the lower end of the said box and carrying the valve-stems, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM E. LEIGHTON.

Witnesses:

WM. W. MoLAUoHLAN, BELL C. HESSEY. 

